Eric settled into the player-built temporary lodgings in Little Bird Village - a ten-person dormitory.
"Hey bro, what level did you reach today?"
"I'm level 3 already!"
"No way! Are you cheating? It's only been half a day!"
"My brother's in the Black Bear Guild~"
"Damn, lucky you... I barely made it to level 2 after grinding all day. Too many players stealing mobs, and the monsters are tough as hell."
Eric silently arranged his bedding, ignoring the dorm chatter. The textbooks had been clear - early game socializing was meaningless. Once you leveled up and left the village, you'd realize these "connections" were worthless against the vast world and its powerful beings.
Better to rest early and plan tomorrow's leveling route than waste time on empty socializing. Though some chose to become lackeys for well-connected players from the start.
The night passed quietly. At dawn's first light, Eric rose early and headed to the farm. From afar, he saw the old woman tilling the field.
"Grandma, I'm here," Eric greeted respectfully.
The old woman glanced sideways at him, chuckling. "You're early, young man. I thought you players would still be sleeping at this hour. The sickle's in the corner, and the fields are 200 meters straight ahead - two connected plots today."
As Eric nodded and moved to retrieve the Radiant Sickle, the old woman added meaningfully: "If you can finish harvesting both fields by... let's say 9 PM tonight, come see me afterward."
"I'll do my best, Grandma," Eric promised.
The two fields were each larger than yesterday's plot. "Finishing both by 9 PM won't be easy... but not impossible!" Eric guessed this was the NPC testing his endurance. Completing the task would likely trigger something special.
He bent down and began harvesting...
[You harvested a bundle of hay]
[You harvested a bundle of hay]
...
[Radiant Sickle effect triggered]
[Permanent Attack +1]
Though the permanent stat boosts were rare, each trigger filled Eric with renewed motivation. By 8:50 PM, he finally straightened up. "Done!" Today's harvest had granted him 10 permanent Attack, 40 Health and 40 Mana - an incredible haul.
"Grandma, I've finished," Eric announced at her cabin door.
"Good. Come in," the old woman permitted.
The sparse cabin contained only basic furniture, but Eric's eyes were drawn to an emblem on the wall - a radiant white tree pierced by two crossed blades.
"Young man, what do you think of the Sarcast Empire?" the old woman asked as she adjusted the emblem.
[Fate's Hint activates]
[Option 1: "The Empire is rotten" - gains favor]
[Option 2: "The Empire can last" - disappoints]
Eric chose his words carefully: "Grandma, though I'm new here, something about Sarcast feels... off. In my world, few nations survive 300 years. Given your question... I suspect the Empire is rotting from within."
The old woman's eyes gleamed with approval. This player had shown caution (avoiding the Black Bear Guild's trap), perseverance (completing the harvest), and now wisdom. A promising candidate indeed.
"Your real name, boy. Not some game ID."
"Eric Zhou. The 'Zhou' means 'complete', the 'Eric' means 'eternal ruler'."
"A good name for a promising future. I have a mission for you, if you dare accept."
She gestured to the emblem. "For 302 years, Sarcast has stood. But now, a foolish emperor and greedy council bleed the people dry. Take this emblem to the Deepwater Cave beyond town. Give it to the level 10 boss - the Abyssal Serpent."
[Fate's Wheel begins turning]
[Fate's Hint 1: The Black Bear Guild plans to corrupt the Serpent within 3 days using Blackwater Slime]
[Fate's Hint 2: Consider the old woman's exact words - no time limit was specified. Maybe delivering after corruption is intended?]
Eric's mind raced. "Grandma, is there a time limit for this mission?"
The old woman smiled. "Three days. What do you think?"